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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Criminal barristers begin strike in row over legal aid fees

Barristers protest outside Manchester crown courts. Criminal barristers say they can end up being paid less than the minimum wage for court hearings.
Barristers protest outside Manchester crown courts. Criminal barristers say they can end up being paid less than the minimum wage for court hearings. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Criminal barristers in England and Wales are to begin a strike over legal aid fees on Monday, as they warn the profession is facing an “existential crisis” because of inadequate funding.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said the offer of a 15% uplift in fees, which was the minimum increase recommended by the criminal legal aid review (Clar), is insufficient after swingeing cuts – and will not apply to the backlog of 58,000 cases in crown courts.

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